Seraphic Fire nabs three Grammy nominations

Seraphic Fire, Miami’s celebrated choir, has been nominated for three Grammy Awards.

Patrick Dupre Quigley, the group’s artistic director, got the news late Wednesday night, the day before his 34th birthday. “It’s the best birthday present of all time,” he said.

The choir founded in 2002, was recognized for two recordings. Its disc of Brahms’ German Requiem was nominated for best Choral Performance of the Year and Best Producer of the Year for Peter Rutenberg. And A Seraphic Fire Christmas is up for Best Small Ensemble Performance. This is the first time Quigley’s choir has been nominated for a Grammy in any category.

“We’ve been working daily for nine and a half years on this project,” said Quigley Thursday from San Antonio where he is guest conducting this weekend.

“I think it shows that after a decade of hard work, Seraphic Fire means something now to people outside of South Florida. And that if you work hard enough on something, it will eventually pay off.”

Quigley said it’s also significant that a classical group in Miami has been recognized for multiple Grammy nominations. “It proves to people outside of Florida that we have some great classical music down here as well as Latin music and rap.”